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Trump Considered Replacing John Kelly And Replacing Him With Himself

NBC News reported Thursday that President Trump suggested to others outside the White House that he would fire Chief of Staff John Kelly and not name anyone as a replacement.

Trump would then receive direct reports from aides, similar to how he ran the Trump Organization. However, Trump has reportedly put the idea on hold.

NBC published the report just hours after former White House senior adviser Steve Bannon suggested at a Financial Times event that if Kelly were fired, Trump would not replace him.

While Kelly and Trump have clashed at various times since Kelly took over as Chief of Staff, Trump has told advisers that Kelly’s job is “100 percent safe.”

Suggestions of Kelly’s ouster have increased as Trump has hinted at major White House shake-ups. Earlier this month, top economic adviser Gary Cohn resigned, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired last week. Last night, Trump announced that former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton will replace National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster next month.